When 31-year-old Macedonian center Pero Antic signed with the Atlanta Hawks last summer, he probably didn’t expect to be the centerpiece of a game plan that would almost topple the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed. That’s exactly what transpired though, as Antic had an eventful first season in the NBA.
A rookie in the NBA, from the start of the season Antic has looked like he belongs in the world’s top basketball league. A 13-year veteran from his time in Europe, Antic has an edge and a shrewdness that only comes from playing a lot of professional basketball.
For his rookie season, Antic was selected to the squad for the Rising Stars Challenge, and before breaking his foot at the end of January, he was in many people’s top five in the Rookie of the Year race.
All in all, Antic was a pleasant surprise for the Hawks, and he probably couldn’t have had a more productive first season in the NBA.
Let’s take a closer look at some key aspects of his play.